Every County Court Judgment issued in England or Wales is recorded on a public database maintained by Registry Trust. Understanding how this register works — what it contains, how to search it, and how entries are updated or removed — is essential for anyone dealing with a CCJ or concerned about their credit position.
This guide explains the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines, how to use the Registry Trust search service, and what your results actually mean.
What Is Registry Trust?
Registry Trust is a not-for-profit organisation that manages the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines on behalf of the Ministry of Justice. It has operated the register since 1985 and is the only authorised body for maintaining this public database in England and Wales.
The register is a public record of money judgments, meaning anyone can search it — for a fee. Credit reference agencies such as Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion access the register regularly to update their databases, which is why a CCJ appears on your credit file as well as on the register itself.
Registry Trust also maintains similar registers for Scotland (Sheriff Court Judgments) and Northern Ireland (Enforcement of Judgments Office), though this guide focuses on England and Wales only.
What Is Recorded on the Register?
The Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines holds several types of financial orders made in England and Wales, not only County Court Judgments. Understanding what is held on the register helps clarify what will and will not affect your credit file.
County Court Judgments (CCJs)
These are the most common entries on the register. A CCJ is recorded when a creditor takes someone to the County Court over an unpaid debt and the court finds in the creditor’s favour — either because the defendant did not respond to the claim, or after a contested hearing. Each entry includes:
- The name and address of the debtor as registered at the time of the judgment
- The date the judgment was issued
- The amount of the judgment
- The name of the issuing court
- Whether the judgment is satisfied (paid) or unsatisfied (unpaid)
High Court Judgments
Larger debts — typically above £100,000 — may be pursued in the High Court rather than the County Court. High Court Judgments are also recorded on the register and appear on credit files in the same way as CCJs.
Administration Orders
Where someone has multiple CCJs and cannot afford to pay all their creditors, a court may issue an Administration Order — effectively a managed repayment plan overseen by the court. These are also registered and will appear on a standard Trust Online search.
Fines Registered for Civil Enforcement
Magistrates court fines that have been registered for enforcement through the civil courts also appear on the register. These are less common and typically relate to unpaid fines rather than commercial credit debts.
How to Search the Register: Trust Online
The official public search portal for the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines is Trust Online, the consumer-facing service run by Registry Trust. It is the fastest and most authoritative way to find out whether a judgment is registered against you or someone else.
Searching as an individual
To search for a CCJ registered against yourself or another individual, you will need:
- Full legal name — including any previous names if applicable
- All current and previous addresses covering the period you want to search
- Payment of the search fee (£6 per search at time of writing — always check the Trust Online site for current pricing)
Results are returned instantly online. If a judgment is found, you will see the basic details: court, date, amount, and status. You can also request a full certified copy of any entry for an additional fee — some lenders and landlords ask for this as proof of a satisfied judgment.
Tip: If you have moved house in the last six years, search all previous addresses separately. A CCJ may have been registered at an old address and you may not have been aware of it.
Searching for businesses
The register records judgments against limited companies, partnerships, and sole traders as well as private individuals. If you operate as a sole trader, any CCJ against you personally will appear under your name. Limited company directors’ personal records are separate from company entries.
Registry Trust offers business account access for organisations needing higher-volume searches — for example, landlords, mortgage brokers, or employers. Business accounts provide bulk access at reduced rates per search.
How to Interpret Your Search Results
Finding a result on Trust Online can be alarming, but understanding what the different statuses mean helps you decide what action to take.
Unsatisfied
An unsatisfied entry means the judgment debt has not been paid in full. The creditor retains the right to pursue enforcement action — which can include bailiff visits, attachment of earnings orders, or a charging order against property. If this is your CCJ, addressing it promptly is important.
Satisfied
A satisfied entry means the court has been notified that the full debt was paid after the judgment date. The entry remains on the register but is marked accordingly. Credit reference agencies are notified of this update and your credit file should reflect the change within approximately 30 days.
It is important to understand that paying the debt changes the status but does not remove the entry. A satisfied CCJ still damages your credit score and will remain visible to lenders and landlords for the full six-year period from the original judgment date.
Set Aside (Removed)
If a CCJ has been set aside by a court order, the entry is deleted from the register entirely. Registry Trust is notified of the court order and removes the entry — it will no longer appear on searches, and credit reference agencies will remove it from their records. This is the only way to achieve complete removal of a CCJ before the six-year period expires.
How Long Does an Entry Stay on the Register?
All entries on the Register of Judgments remain for six years from the date the judgment was issued, regardless of whether they are satisfied or unsatisfied. After six years, the entry is automatically deleted.
There are two exceptions to this rule:
- Entries successfully set aside by a court order are removed immediately
- Entries where the debt was paid in full within one month of the judgment date — the court can apply to Registry Trust to cancel the entry entirely, preventing it from appearing on credit files
If you paid a CCJ within one month of it being issued, it is worth contacting the court that issued the judgment and providing evidence of payment. If the court confirms this to Registry Trust, the entry may be cancelled rather than simply marked as satisfied.
How Credit Reference Agencies Use the Register
Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion all receive regular data feeds from Registry Trust. When a new judgment is registered, updated to satisfied, or removed following a set-aside, the credit agencies update their records. The time lag between a registry update and your credit file being updated is typically around 30 days, though it varies by agency.
If you have successfully had a CCJ set aside and removed from the Register of Judgments, check your credit report with all three agencies after 30 to 60 days to confirm the entry has been removed. If it has not, you can raise a dispute directly with each agency. For more on this process, see our guide: How to Remove a CCJ from Your Credit Report.
Having a CCJ Removed From the Register
If you have found a CCJ on the register that you believe was issued without your knowledge, or in circumstances you want to challenge, you may be able to apply to the court to have it set aside. Setting aside a CCJ removes it from the register entirely — this is very different from simply paying the debt.
There are two main routes available in England and Wales:
Consent Order — £123 court fee, approx. 12 weeks
If the original creditor agrees to the CCJ being set aside — for example, because the debt has been paid or because there was an error in the original claim — a Consent Order can be submitted to the court without a hearing. Both parties sign a document confirming their agreement, and the court issues an order cancelling the judgment.
The court fee is £123 and the process typically takes around 12 weeks from submission to the order being issued. Once the court order is made, Registry Trust is notified and the entry is removed. Find out more about the Consent Order route.
N244 Application — £313 court fee, 4+ months
If the creditor does not agree to the set-aside or cannot be contacted, you can apply to the court using a Form N244 and attend a hearing where a judge will consider your case. You will need to show valid grounds — for example, that the original claim was sent to the wrong address, or that you had a defence that was not heard.
The court fee is £313 and timescales vary, but applicants should typically expect the process to take 4 months or longer. In busier courts such as those in London, the wait for a hearing can extend to 9 to 12 months.
If the application is successful, the judge will issue a set-aside order, Registry Trust will be notified, and the entry will be removed from the register and from credit files. Learn more about N244 applications.
How CCJ Removal Services Can Help
CCJ Removal Services helps people in England and Wales navigate the process of having County Court Judgments removed. We are not solicitors and do not provide legal advice, but we guide clients through both the Consent Order and N244 routes — helping to prepare applications and set realistic expectations about costs and timescales.
If you have found a CCJ on Registry Trust and want to explore whether it can be set aside, contact our team for a free initial review. We will assess your situation and advise on the most appropriate route.
You can also read more about how CCJ removal works on our main site, including our guides on the costs involved in CCJ removal and realistic timescales.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Register of Judgments the same as Registry Trust?
Registry Trust is the not-for-profit organisation that manages and maintains the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines on behalf of the Ministry of Justice. Trust Online is the consumer-facing search portal that allows individuals and businesses to search the register. They are related but distinct: Registry Trust is the body, and the Register of Judgments is the database it runs.
How much does it cost to search the Register of Judgments?
Personal searches via Trust Online cost £6 per search at the time of writing. If you have lived at several addresses in the last six years, you will need to search each address separately. Business accounts are available for higher-volume searching at reduced rates. Always check the Trust Online website for current fees.
How long does a CCJ stay on the Register of Judgments?
A CCJ remains on the register for six years from the date it was issued, unless it is set aside by a court order. After six years it is automatically removed. Paying the debt (satisfying the judgment) updates the entry to show as satisfied but does not remove it before the six-year period expires.
What does “unsatisfied” mean on a Registry Trust search?
An unsatisfied entry means the judgment debt has not been paid in full. The creditor retains the right to take enforcement action to recover the money — this can include sending bailiffs, applying for an attachment of earnings order, or obtaining a charging order on property. It is important to address an unsatisfied CCJ as soon as possible.
Can I get a CCJ removed from the register before six years?
Yes. The only way to have a CCJ removed from the Register of Judgments before the six-year period ends is to have it set aside by a court order. This requires either a Consent Order (with the creditor’s agreement, £123 court fee, approximately 12 weeks) or an N244 application (without the creditor’s agreement, £313 court fee, 4 months or longer). If the application is successful, the entry is deleted entirely from the register and from your credit file.
Will paying a CCJ remove it from the Register of Judgments?
No. Paying the debt changes the register status from “unsatisfied” to “satisfied”, which is a positive step, but the entry itself remains visible to lenders and credit reference agencies for the full six-year period. Only a court order setting aside the judgment achieves complete removal from the register and credit files before six years.
How do I confirm a CCJ has been removed from Registry Trust after a set-aside?
Once a court issues a set-aside order, Registry Trust is notified and deletes the entry. You can confirm removal by running a fresh Trust Online search two to four weeks after the court order. Credit reference agencies receive regular updates from Registry Trust, so your credit file should also be updated within 30 to 60 days of the removal.